onsite vs offsite traveling tips

[meeshkamooshka]

I pretty much know the routine when staying onsite, but this will be my first time staying at the DIZ in an offsite hotel ( actually timeshare rental)

what are some ideas or tips you might give for someone staying offsite?

I think I figured this out so far...
1. the parking at parks ( transferable to another park) will cost $15 a day ....
2. no magic hours for me
( that's ok, rarely used them when I was onsite anyways)
3. DIS hotel reservations are accepted, BUT question I have - if I do go to hotel to eat, do I pay for parking or if I have a reservation is it for FREE?

stuff like that...

THanks for any help/advice!

 

[amym2]

You do not have to pay for hotel parking (other than at Swan and Dolphin I believe). Just tell the gate attendant you have an ADR and they may or may not issue a 3 hour parking passes. We love to tour the resorts and have never had a problem parking, even without dining there. I hear it can be an issue during busy times, but we've done it at Christmas without problems.

Depending on where you are staying, you might want to enter WDW from near AK (I assume you can still do that) to avoid some traffic. When we stayed at Windsor Hills off 192 west of WDW we did this and it helped.

We've stayed both on and offsite and have typically found that travel in our own car is faster than Disney buses. Of course some parks (MK) take longer to get to than others, but we enjoy taking the monorail, it's part of the fun.

 

[Deb & Bill]

If you have an AP, you can park for free. Figure up how much it would to cost for each day of your trip and see if an AP makes sense. Plus you will get some dining and shopping discounts with the AP. And you can purchase the Tables in Wonderland Dining card.

 

[meeshkamooshka]

Depending on where you are staying, you might want to enter WDW from near AK (I assume you can still do that) to avoid some traffic. When we stayed at Windsor Hills off 192 west of WDW we did this and it helped.

we are staying at river island ( orange lake resort) I think I read something about a shortcut but when I goggled it calculated shortest time to go out of my resort complex make a left onto Osceola Parkway and then get on World drive ( MK)...
I did notice we are really close to AK...maybe I can see the safari animals from my hotel ( NOT!!!)

We've stayed both on and offsite and have typically found that travel in our own car is faster than Disney buses. Of course some parks (MK) take longer to get to than others, but we enjoy taking the monorail, it's part of the fun.

yeah, I am SO happy to hear this, no running to,waiting on, sweating in, BUSES...now that is magical!

I do enjoy the paddle boat that takes you to MK and the monorail to EPCOT... they are FUN!

 

[meeshkamooshka]

If you have an AP, you can park for free. Figure up how much it would to cost for each day of your trip and see if an AP makes sense. Plus you will get some dining and shopping discounts with the AP. And you can purchase the Tables in Wonderland Dining card.

thanks for the suggestion, but I cant justify the cost of an Annual Pass... we don't go to Disney ( we go other places) more than once a year...last time we went was 3 years I think....

 

[Missyrose]

Avoid the parks with EMH, they will be considerably more crowded than the parks without EMH on any given day.

 

[meeshkamooshka]

Avoid the parks with EMH, they will be considerably more crowded than the parks without EMH on any given day.

I won't have the extra hours because I am off site this time, but I know what you are saying.... everyone seems to flock to the park during extra hours...who needs the crowds....I tried to zig when most people zag....

I use to live in Herndon..nice up their in N VA..

 

[Lynne M]

I'm going to move this over to the Orlando Hotels board, that's where the offsite pros hang out.

 

[meeshkamooshka]

I'm going to move this over to the Orlando Hotels board, that's where the offsite pros hang out.

I wondered about that, I really wasnt sure where to post ! THANKS!